Laurie's Dance with Sound

A Broadway CI Moment
Laurie's Dance with Sound Wow! Oh, Wow! My husband and I recently saw the Broadway musical, “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City. For the first time EVER, I was able to enjoy a show without missing a single word or action. Steve called ahead before he made our reservations to see if they had any assistive listening devices available for me. The person who answered the phone was ve...
Sat, Jul 17 2010

What Will You Give Him?
Laurie's Dance with Sound This is one of my favorite Christmas items that I get out every year when we start decorating our home for the holidays. It was given to me by my very good friend, Claire, who passed away several years ago to ovarian cancer. She knew how much I loved the Little Drummer Boy at Christmas time and found this for me. I haven't seen anything like it since...
Mon, Dec 21 2009

A Spooky CI Moment...
Laurie's Dance with Sound Here is a question for you:If a car alarm goes off in the garage and no one is around, does it make a sound?The other day I was working in my office upstairs (I work at home for our consulting business) and heard a car alarm go off. I had my window cracked a little bit so I could hear the birds and thought that maybe it was my neighbor's car going off but didn't see ...
Tue, Sep 22 2009

Four Years Ago Today...
Laurie's Dance with Sound Four years ago today my first cochlear implant was activated...Four years ago I heard the sound of a little boy's voice as he talked to his mom....sounds I had missed when our children were little...Four years ago my four children surprised me with my very first iPod.... (I'm on my second one now!)Four years ago I heard the sound of 19,000 women singing in acapella, ...
Sun, Sep 20 2009

A Cochlear Implant Journey Video
Laurie's Dance with Sound This is a must see video! It describes the hearing loss journey of Josh and Sam Swiller, their cochlear implant surgery, activation, therapy, and life afterwards perfectly....and is almost identical to my hearing loss experience and results. It is captioned, too!What a gift technology has given to the deaf and hard of hearing....Enjoy!Soundproof Trailer created by fil...
Wed, Sep 16 2009

A Lotte Update
Laurie's Dance with Sound After I sent a response to Lotte's father about "the experiment," I received the following response. Lotte's father has given me permission to share it:"Hi Laurie,Thanks for that experiment. And a thorough job you did...Was great to hear how you perceived the sound. "Distant and nasal" is a description we can use. With this we will try to have Lotte to wear it on the ...
Mon, Aug 24 2009

A Very Special Request
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last month I received a very special request from another blogger who lives halfway around the world in Norway. His daugher, Lotte, wears the BTE (Behind The Ear) Cochlear Freedom Processor and is also bilateral like me. Her father asked me to be a guinea pig for an unusual experiment....You see, Lotte does not wear her processors behind her ears but on her shoulders ...
Mon, Aug 24 2009

A Must Read....Jennifer's Post
Laurie's Dance with Sound My friend, Jennifer, posted a very moving and poignant post yesterday.....it is a must read! She shares her bilateral cochlear implant journey from her heart at SURROUND SOUND...
Wed, Jul 15 2009

Part II - The People I Meet - 2009 HLAA Convention
Laurie's Dance with Sound Here are a few more pictures from the Convention. I don't want to leave anyone out but I didn't get pictures of all the new people I met there.Barbie & Ken (Sunny & Captain Mark Brogan)I finally got to meet Mark's wife in person at the Convention. She is a sweetheart! And is so supportive and understanding of Mark's hearing loss. They make the cutest couple, d...
Tue, Jul 14 2009

The People I Meet - 2009 HLAA Convention Pictures
Laurie's Dance with Sound The 2009 HLAA Convention in Nashville has come and gone but the memories remain.....here are some pictures for you to enjoy! HLA of Knoxville ChapterThis is my local chapter (click on the above name to access our Chapter blog) and I was so pleased that some of our members were able to come and experience this convention. Every time I saw one of them, they looked like ...
Thu, Jul 09 2009

The Wellspring...: Ear number two!
Laurie's Dance with Sound Below is another blog that I like to read. Some of it is hearing related but mostly concentrates on their family and pictures. This couple adopted their daughter from Quito (I think) and she went bilateral today! Click here to see more! The Wellspring...: Ear number two!
Mon, Jun 15 2009

The Main Event of the Year.....
Laurie's Dance with Sound ....is one week away! It's the Annual HLAA Convention 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee from June 18th - 21st at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort. Ever since Jennifer and I went to our 1st HLAA Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we promised ourselves that we would not miss another convention. It was a life-changing experience for both us to meet with other people ...
Wed, Jun 10 2009

Another Friend Goes Bilateral!
Laurie's Dance with Sound Another friend has taken the step to bilateral hearing! I met Becky a few months ago because she had many questions about having two cochlear implants versus one. She traveled to Nashville on Sunday from Knoxville with some members of her familly and had her second CI surgery yesterday! And is doing amazingly well. Check out her blog here and give her some encoura...
Tue, May 19 2009

Paying It Forward...
Laurie's Dance with Sound There is an old Chinese Proverb that goes something like this:If you want to be happy for an hour,Take a nap.If you want to be happy for a day,Go fishing.If you want to be happy for a year,Inherit a fortune.If you want to be happy for a lifetime,Help Someone....Yesterday I particpated in Tennessee's very first Walk4Hearing held in Chattanooga along the beautiful River...
Sun, May 17 2009

A Very Special Walk
Laurie's Dance with Sound Please CLICK HERE to see my Walk4Hearing Page! (There is also a link to my personal walk page in my sidebar to make a donation.)On Saturday, May 16th,I'll be participating in the Walk4Hearing in Chattanooga on the beautiful and colorful Riverwalk at the Chattanooga State Technical Community College in Chattanooga, TN. This very special walk is a fund-raiser to support...
Sun, Apr 05 2009

Support Deaf Actors
Laurie's Dance with Sound My husband and I are huge fans of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. After much talk and anticipation, NBC has announced an episode featuring not one but many Deaf actors, including:Deanne BrayAlexandria WailesGarrett SuercherDarren FrazierHillary BaackWilly ConleyRaymond LuczakIn addition, NBC broke TV history by hiring the most Deaf extras (35 people) for a network T...
Tue, Mar 17 2009

Nerve Deafness
Laurie's Dance with Sound I originally wrote this post in my "Book Blog" (which I rarely write in anymore) on August 20, 2005 before my first cochlear implant surgery and thought it was worth repeating.Nerve Deafness When I was diagnosed with my hearing loss, my parents were told that I had "nerve deafness." Lately that term has puzzled me because I can hear sounds with the help of hearing aid...
Mon, Mar 16 2009

Can You Read My Lips?
Laurie's Dance with Sound The above picture needs a little explanation. (Smile!) My husband and I are currently in Los Cabos, Mexico for a much needed vacation, our first in four years.! Traveling to different country poses some challenges with the different languages when one only speaks English. Here in Mexico, the natives speak Spanish as well as some basic English words. For someone like m...
Thu, Mar 12 2009

Veterans With Hearing Loss
Laurie's Dance with Sound Please check out this news article. . . this featured veteran is a member of my HLA of Knoxville Chapter and is a wonderful young man. Mark Brogan is helping HLAA reach out to veterans nationwide who have lost their hearing as a result of their military service.HLAA is offering a Complimentary Membership in HLAA for Vets of OIF and OEF and a free HLAA Convention 2009 ...
Fri, Feb 06 2009

A New CI Friend
Laurie's Dance with Sound I continue to advocate and support others with hearing loss on a weekly basis and would like to introduce you to Becky! She emailed me a few weeks ago asking for advice on going bilateral since she already has a cochlear implant. To make a long story short, I met her in person last Wednesday night at a CI Support Group meeting and found her to be a delightful person...
Mon, Feb 02 2009

President Obama's Name Sign
Laurie's Dance with Sound Just in! A student at Gallaudet University has given President Obama his name sign and posted a video on YouTube! It is subtitled for the deaf & hard of hearing.Click HERE to watch!
Thu, Jan 22 2009

UT Department of Audiology & Speech Department Saved!
Laurie's Dance with Sound When the University of Tennessee announced the pending closure of the Department of Audiology & Speech this past June, I went right to work advocating for the group for several months. There were parallel efforts by many other people in the community and nationwide to help save this nationally recognized program. Much time was spent on my part for several months in ...
Tue, Jan 06 2009

Health Update - Meniere's Disease?
Laurie's Dance with Sound Dear Friends,I know I am way behind in my blog and will be updating it when I have a good opportunity. My email box is filling up with messages wondering where I've been and I want to thank everyone for their kind words and concern. I am truly blessed to have friends like you, many of whom I haven't met in person yet. I just responded Ethan's mom (see earlier post wh...
Sat, Dec 06 2008

How A Cochlear Implant Works - *NEW*
Laurie's Dance with Sound Here is a new video on YouTube on how a cochlear implant works. . . by Advanced Bionics. . .a good one to see and pass on to people who want to know more about them.Click here:How A Cochlear Implant Works by Advanced Bionics, LLC.There is another link in my right sidebar on a different explanation on how cochlear implants work.I have the Freedom Processors by Cochlear...
Thu, Oct 16 2008

My "Gilead"
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last month I "escaped" to my aunt Trudy's house in Ohio. I needed to get away for a little while for some peace and quiet. Even though I can hear wonderfully with my cochlear implants, there are still times in my life when I crave the peace that comes with silence and solitude. . . away from the noisy world with no distractions. I've been going to Trudy's house eve...
Tue, Oct 14 2008

The People I Meet - Drew & His Family
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last Friday, I had opportunity to meet another CI kid - Drew! His parents both write in "Turn On My Ears" and they live in Columbus, Ohio. When I was planning my trip to Ohio, I email them to see if we could possibly meet. Drew's family invited me for lunch and we had a wonderful time visiting and learning about each other's hearing journeys.Drew & Laurie (we b...
Thu, Oct 02 2008

The People I Meet - Ethan & Heather
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last Saturday I drove to Ohio for a little getaway. . .I take this trip once a year to have some time with family and friends. I also use this time to reflect, ponder, and have some quiet time at my aunt's home in the country in the middle of nowhere. (I'll write about this visit in another post.)On the way up, I stopped in Cincinnati to meet a new CI friend, Ethan ...
Thu, Sep 25 2008

Taming The China Cabinet
Laurie's Dance with Sound Ever since I got my cochlear implants, I've been more aware of sounds I haven't heard before. Others CI friends have had to oil squeaky hinges on doors or turn down the volume on the TV and other electronic item. In our house, we have a noisy china cabinet in the dining room! Our dining room sits in the middle of the house and is a major walk-through area from the ...
Wed, Sep 10 2008

Labor Day Fireworks!
Laurie's Dance with Sound Steve and I went to Knoxville on Labor Day to see the Boomsday Fireworks. For those of you who don't know what Boomsday is, it is a huge three day festival held in Knoxville, Tennessee every Labor Day weekend on the waterfront in downtown Knoxville. It is a free event that brings thousands of people to Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing (near the University of Tennessee ...
Sun, Sep 07 2008

Three Year Anniversary
Laurie's Dance with Sound Three years ago today, the remnants of Hurricane Katrina blew through Knoxville, knocking out the power in our area. Three years ago Steve was trying to get home from a business trip to take me to the hospital for a life-changing surgery (he didn't make it - Marissa had to miss school that day and took me instead. Steve did make it in time to be there when I woke up...
Sun, Aug 31 2008

Sounds of Mystic, Connecticut
Laurie's Dance with Sound The waters are alive with the sounds of Mystic,With stories they have told for a thousand years.The river fills my heart with the stillness of Mystic,My heart wants to tell every story it hears. . .My heart wants to soar like the mist on the water rising like a breath of heaven to the clouds. . .My soul wants to sail like a ship that glidesfrom the pier in the wind. ....
Wed, Aug 27 2008

A Letter From My Father - Part 3
Laurie's Dance with Sound My father's letter continues. . .Laurie's mother should be given the majority of the credit for ensuring Laurie's speech training and for spending hours and hours listening to her and her problems and for encouraging her to "never give up" on being able to "get along" in a hearing world.She taught Laurie how to be organized and to get tasks done in a timely manner. F...
Mon, Aug 25 2008

A Letter From My Father - Part 2
Laurie's Dance with Sound Dad went on and talked about my early "school" years. . . my notes/comments are in red. . . just reading my father's letter brought back many memories for me.(Dad's letter continues. . . )At age 3, Laurie was enrolled in Pre-school for 3-5 days a week at our church, North Broadway Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio.At age 5, she started kindergarten at a "special scho...
Thu, Aug 21 2008

NEWS FLASH! UT Audiology & Speech Program Update
Laurie's Dance with Sound I just received word that the University of Tennessee Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology program has been saved! This is WONDERFUL and GREAT news! So many people have responded and worked very hard to save this department that makes a difference in so many lives. I don't know all of the details yet but it was announced this afternoon.This news comes jus...
Tue, Aug 19 2008

A Letter From My Father
Laurie's Dance with Sound A few weeks ago my father sent me a letter answering some questions about my early years when my hearing loss was discovered. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for my mom & dad's determination, strength, & perseverance in making sure I had every option available to me. I still had some questions about my early "deaf" history and since Mom wasn't h...
Sun, Aug 10 2008

Audiology Clinic Allows Locals to Live & Work
Laurie's Dance with Sound I am still working hard and advocating for the UT Audiology & Speech Department and recently had another article published in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Monday. You can access it HERE. It was originally supposed to be published a few weeks ago but the gentleman who wrote it had to deal with the loss of his mother to cancer right after he interviewed me. I ha...
Wed, Aug 06 2008

Guess Who Is Coming to Tennessee?
Laurie's Dance with Sound Jackson! (And his mommy and daddy, too!) They will arrive tonight from Texas. My car is all ready for him with a clean car, car seat, & stroller. I love having a "Granny Car" complete with all the things I need. I never dreamed that being a grandma would be so much fun! I also borrowed a port-a-crib/playpen, and swing and all this fills up my vehicle. There ...
Thu, Jul 24 2008

The People I Meet - Valerie
Laurie's Dance with Sound Last Saturday I had an opportunity to meet a new CI blogging friend, Valerie! She has a blog at Tales from a CI Gal so go visit her! She and her daughter, Jenna, were in Gatlinburg last weekend for a dance competition. I love meeting new people, especially those that I've met through blogging and the Internet. I had a beautiful drive through the Smoky Mountains on...
Tue, Jul 01 2008

UT Audiology and Speech Program Update
Laurie's Dance with Sound I have been very busy writing letters to the Tennessee Governor, the President of the University of Tennessee, the Board of Trustees, Senators, Representatives, and anyone I can think of regarding the proposed shutdown of the UT Audiology and Speech Program. The public outcry on this issue has been phenomenal. The Board of Trustees did decide to postpone this decisi...
Mon, Jun 30 2008

2008 HLAA Convention Reno Recap
Laurie's Dance with Sound So much happened during my trip to Reno for the HLAA convention that I don't know where to start! I barely got my act together and got everything situated so I could leave for ten days. I have a husband that can pack a suitcase in 15 minutes but it takes me several days! My flights were good and I really didn't have any major problems except the usual stress of won...
Thu, Jun 26 2008

HLAA in Reno
Laurie's Dance with Sound Where do I begin to write? Four days at the HLAA Convention in Reno was not enough time to see all the things I wanted to see, spend time with all the friends I wanted to be with, take all the pictures I wanted to take, attend all the seminars I wanted to go to, and do all the things I wanted to do. There are so many thoughts I want to share with you all about the c...
Mon, Jun 23 2008

2008 HLAA Convention, Reno, Nevada!
Laurie's Dance with Sound I’m on my way to the annual HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America) Conference in Reno, Nevada! I’ve been planning for this ever since the convention last year in Oklahoma City and can’t wait to see my friends again and meet new ones! I barely got my act together and fell into bed after midnight last night when I finished packing. I’m probably bringing too m...
Thu, Jun 12 2008

2008 HLAA Convention in Reno, Nevada
Laurie's Dance with Sound Lake Tahoe, here I come! The 2008 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention is almost here and I am really looking forward to it! It is going to be held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino at Lake Tahoe in Reno, Nevada from June 12th to the 15th. For those of you who are deaf or hearing impaired in some way (or know someone who is), this is four days of heaven!...
Thu, Jun 12 2008

Future Cochlear Implant Candidate???
Laurie's Dance with Sound This is what I woke up to this morning. . . I was not prepared for the sudden, jarring sensation that reverberated through my processors when I turned them on! And I was inside the house! We live on a quiet circle at the end of a mile long street and have very little traffic or noise on our street. We are having some major construction for the next five weeks so th...
Thu, Jun 12 2008

UT President is Shutting Down My Audiologist's Office!
Laurie's Dance with Sound As an advocate for the Tennessee Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, if anything affects the deaf and hard of hearing in East Tennessee, I stop whatever I am doing. Today is one of those days.I have received some disturbing news today and have already written a letter to the Governor of Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, regarding this issue. John D. Peterson, the pr...
Thu, Jun 05 2008

Memorial Day Tribute
Laurie's Dance with Sound Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember those who have gone before us to give us the freedom that we enjoy today. Steve and I watched the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS on Sunday night and appreciated the music and stories. I LOVE listening to patriotic songs and always get the goose bumps when I hear them. Especially when I hear "Taps." The stories b...
Tue, May 27 2008

Branson Deaf Appreciation Weekend
Laurie's Dance with Sound I received this in my email box today and thought I should pass this news on to my readers. This event looks like great fun and I wish I was close enough to attend this! As you know, May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. I think it is wonderful when organizations and businesses make a special effort so that deaf and hard of hearing persons can participate in show...
Thu, May 01 2008

Medical Alert Tattoo
Laurie's Dance with Sound I've been thinking about this for quite some time and thought I would put this out there for comments, ideas, and suggestions. . . .Because I have bilateral cochlear implants, I wear a medical alert bracelet that has my name on it, that states that I have a cochlear implant, and that I cannot have an MRI for any reason. What if my bracelet falls off in an accident? Or...
Tue, Feb 26 2008

It's SNOWING. . . .
Laurie's Dance with Sound . . .in West Virginia! Apparently it is snowing back home in Tennessee, too! I've been traveling in Morgantown, WV with my husband on business this week. It was 15 degrees the first morning we woke up and we were COLD! I've worn my cuddle duds (long underwear) every day this week to stay warm. (I also have a huggy hubby to keep me warm when he isn't busy working!) We'...
Thu, Feb 14 2008

New Processor, New Places, New Sounds
Laurie's Dance with Sound I have time for a quick post this morning. I'm currently in Nashville for my Governor's Council meeting and am staying at the Doubletree Hotel downtown. When I'm in a new place I usually hear new and different sounds. And I'm alone so it takes me awhile to figure them out.Last night when I returned to my room after a nice dinner downstairs, I heard a faint bell ringin...
Fri, Feb 08 2008